Electoral Act: Network Excuses No Longer Acceptable – Obi

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has declared that excuses of poor network connectivity can no longer be accepted in Nigeria’s electoral process, insisting on urgent reforms to guarantee credible elections.

Obi made the statement on Tuesday while joining protesters at the National Assembly, Abuja, where civil society groups and concerned citizens staged a demonstration demanding immediate amendments to the Electoral Act.

Addressing the crowd, Obi emphasised the need for real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing it as critical to restoring public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.

“There is no reason in this age for elections not to be transparent. Network excuses are no longer acceptable. Nigerians deserve an electoral system that truly reflects the will of the people,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor argued that persistent flaws in the electoral process have continued to undermine democratic governance and national development, stressing that credible elections are the foundation of good leadership and accountability.

Obi also urged lawmakers to act in the interest of the nation by prioritising reforms that strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and eliminate loopholes often exploited to manipulate results.

Protesters at the National Assembly carried placards calling for electoral transparency, accountability, and full deployment of technology in elections. They also demanded that the National Assembly fast-track amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of future polls.

The demonstration comes amid renewed legislative efforts by the Senate and the House of Representatives to review the Electoral Act, following widespread criticism of the conduct of previous elections.

As of the time of filing this report, the leadership of the National Assembly had not issued an official response to the protest.